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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. HEUNSOH.

WINDING INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

Patented Dec. 4, 1883.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-S11eet 2.

R. HEUNSOH.

WINDING INDIGATOR FOR WATCHES.

No. 289,533. A Patented Dec. 4, 1883.

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R. HEUNSOH. I WINDING INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

No. 289,533. Patented Dec. 4, 1888.

. f T 6 f a F W I NIIIIIIIIMHHIIIIIIHHIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH HEUNSOH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO MAX GOLDSMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

WINDING-INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,583, dated December 4, 1883,

Applicaiion filed August 30.1993. (No model.

T ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH HEUNSCH, of lVashington, District of Columbia. have invented certain Improvements in inding-Indicators for NVatches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved attachment which indicates constantly the extent to which the mainspring is wound, so that the observer may know not only when the spring is fully wound or when it is run down, but also the extent to which it is wound at any particular moment and the time when itwill require rewinding.

1 It is the particular aim of my invention to adapt the improvement to be operated by a very slight expenditure of power on the part of the usual train or movement, to adapt it for application without changing the movement in other respects, and to avoid interference thereby with the usual action of the other parts. To this end Iprovide anindicator-hand connected by intermediate gearing with the winding devices, so that the act of winding the mainspring causes the indicator to be moved backward over a graduated scale, upon which it indicates the extent to which the winding is carried. As the spring runs down the indicatorhand receives motion through the intermediate gearing from the barrel, and is gradually moved back over the scale toward its original position, indicating the progress of the unwinding action. As certain of the gearing necessary to transmit motion from the winding-arbor when winding by hand is unnecessary for transmitting the reverse motion from the barrel to the indicator, provision is made for throwing such needless gearing automatically out'of action as the spring runs down, in order to reduce to a minimum the resistance offered by the indicator attachment to the action of the time train or movement. This automatic disconnection is best secured by permitting a slight retrograde motion of the winding-arbor at the end of the winding action through the medium of a yielding pawl, the retrograde motion having the effect of re versing the motion of certain frictionally-held pinions connected to the winding-arbor and forming a part of the indicator-train.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

the barrel and secured to the inner end of the spring. which latter has its outer end attached Figure 1 represents a face view of a watch pro vided with my indicator; Fig. 2, a rear view of the movement. Fig. 8 represents a trans verse section through the movement on the line 00 00. Fig. 4 is a section on the line v at, looking in the opposite direction. Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the connection and operation of the indicator mechanism during the winding and unwinding actions, respectively. Figs. 7 and S are respectively a longitudinal section and a top plan view of the movable p'inions and their supporting-arm, by which the automatic disconnection of the intermediate indicator-gearing is effected. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the pawl and ratchetwheel, by which the winding-arbor is secured and its retrograde motion permitted. Fig. 10 is a view illustrating the friction device by which the gear-wheel is driven from the barrel.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame or body of the movement; B, the drum or barrel containing the mainspring O, and D the winding-arbor, passing centrally through to the barrel. The arbor is provided with a ratchet-wheel, E, engaged by a pawl, F, so that upon rotating the arbor by hand in the proper direction it will efi'ect the winding of the spring, the arbor being held firmly after the completion of the winding opcration,while the rotation of the barrel is effected through the medium of the spring. The barrel will communicate motion through gear-teeth formed thereon to the time-movement. The foregoing parts, together with the entire time movement or train, may be of the ordinary con struction well understood by those skilled in the art, my invention having no relation thereto.

On the face or dial of the watch I form, as shown in Fig. 1, a graduated scale, over which a hand or indicator, I, is arranged to tr.-vel. This hand,whieh indicates the condition of the mainspring, is mounted on the journal or axis of a gear-wheel, K, seated behind the dial and driven in turn by a pinion, L, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. The pinion is mounted 011 the forward end of a shaft, M, which is extended backward through the movement to the rear side, where it is provided with the pinion N,

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secured thereon. The pinion N receives motion in turn through a pinion, O, the shaft of which is extended through the rear plate of the movement, and. provided 011 the inside with a gear-wheel, 1?, which engages with a corresponding gear-wheel, Q, mounted loosely around the winding-arbor D, and connected with the barrel or drum through the medium of a friction-ring, R. The ring encircles the hub or collar of the wheel Q, and is arranged to engage, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, with a pin or stud, d, on the barrel. This stud causes the ring to revolve with the barrel, and the ring, in turn imparting motion to the wheel Q2, and, thence through the intermediate gear, causes the hand or pointer I to travel steadily over the dial in one direction as the mainspring uneoils. The foregoing parts serve, it will be seen, simply to indicate the uneoiling f the spring, and to show when the spring is fully uncoiled, or, in other words,when the watch needs rewinding. For the purpose of moving the indicator-hand in the opposite direction during the winding action, I combine with the gearing above described supplemental gearing, which is brought into actiononly during the winding operation. This supplemental gearing eonsists, as plainly shown in Figs. 3 to 8, of a gear-wheel, S, secured rigidly to the upper end of the windingnrbor I), and arranged to drive a wide-faced pinion, T, which in turn communicates motion to a pinion, U, the shaft of which carries a gear-wheel, V, arranged to engage the frietionally-driven gear 0, encircling the arbor, as before alluded to. The pinions U and V are carried by an arm, \V, arranged to swing to a limited extent about the axis of the pinion T, this swinging motion allowing the gear V to be thrown into and out of engagement with the frictionally-driven gear Q. During the action ofwinding the watch, the gears V and Q are thrown into engagement, as represented in Fig. 5. \Vhen the parts are thus adjusted, the rotation of the arbor D to wind the spring turns in a positive manner the gear S, which in turn transmits motion through the pinions T U and gear V to the gear Q, overcoming the friction of the ring by which said gear is held, and causing the same to revolvein the opposite direction from that in which it was revolved by the action of the barrel, as before described, the result being that the backwardly-turned gear Q imparts motion through the other in termediate gears to the indicator-hand I, moving the same backward to a position which indicates that the spring is wound. After the completion of the winding operation, and during the time that the barrel is being turned forward by the uncoiling action of the spring, the gears V and Q are kept out of engagment, as represented in Fig. 6, so that the gears S and V and the intermediate pinions, T and U, remain at rest, the time-train being only required to impart motion to the wheel Q and the devices connecting the same with the indicator-hand. By thus constructing the parts to admit of the wheel S, and the devices which connect the same with the wheel Q being thrown out of action, I avoid the excessive re sistance which would otherwise be offered to the action of the time-movement.

For the purpose of causing the gcarV to be thrown automatically out of action upon the cessation of the winding movement, Iprovidc for a slight backward movement of the winding-arbor D, as before alluded to, the effect of this backward movement being to turn its gear S in a backward direction, so that it tends to rotate the pinion T in the direction indicated in Fig. 8, thepinion in turn tending to swing the arm \V and the pinion and gear upon its free end in the same direction, so that the wheel V will ride out of engagement with the wheel Q. The backward rotation of the winding-arbor is secured as shownin Fig. 9. The ratchet-wheel I secured upon the winding-arbor, is engaged by a pawl, F, connected by a pivot, c, to the frame or plate. The pa\vl,instead oli'bein g constructed as usual, is provided with a slot or elongated opening, I), through which the pivot passes, this construction permitting the pawl to move endwise in addition to its ordinary swinging movement. A spring, 0, acts, as usual,upon the pawl to throw its free end into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, the spring also tending to urge the pawl torward in an endwise direction. Inasmuch, however, as the spring 0 is weaker than the mainspring, it follows that the instant the winding-arbor is relieved from the strain or power applied to turnthe same lorward, it is turned backward by the action 01' the mainspring overcoming the spring 0 and forcing the pawl backward. This backward movement of the pawl permits the whirling-arbor and its gearwheel 8 to turn backward to a correspoiuling extent. The wheel S, in its backward rotation, tends to turn the pinion T and the arm \V by which said pinion is supported in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9, the result being that the arm swings outward in such manner as to carry the wheel V out of engagement with the wheel Q. In order to insure between the wheel T and arm \V a triotion suflicient to effect the movement ot'the arm. I mount beneath the end of the arm a spring, Z, which tends to urge the same upward against the inside of the pinion T, as shownin Figs. 3 and 7. It is also preferred to provide the arm \V with an uprighttubular journal or trunnion, c, to carry the pinion T, and to in sert a screw, f, downward through said journal into the main frame, as shown, the screw thus applied serving both as a pivot for the arm and as a means of confining the pinion T in place thereon. In order to prevent undue friction upon the spring and the plate upon which it rests, it is preferred to provide a shoulder, 9, upon which the spring may rest at the center, as shown. \Vhen the arbor and its wheel S are turned forward by hand, the pinion T is turned in such direction that its friction upon the arm W causes the latter to swing inward, thereby engaging the wheel V with the wheel Q, as indicated in the diagram Fi 5. It will of course be understood that my improvements are applicable to stem-winding watches as well as to those which have the arbor adapted to receive a windingkey, the present invention having no special reference thereto. The drawings represent an ordinary stem-winding movement, in which motion is communicated, through suitable devices, to the winding-gear E, secured rigidly to the winding-arbor.

\Vhile I consider the arrangement of details represented in the drawings to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is manifest that the details may be modified in form and arrangement as the peculiar character of the time-movement may require, without departing from the limits of the invention, provided only that a mode of connection substantially such as is herein described is retained.

On reference to Fig. 1 it will be perceived that the gear-wheel K, by which the indicatorhand is driven is provided with teeth on a portion only of its circumference, the remaining portion being cut away in such manner that it may freely pass the driving-pinion L after the latter reaches the last tooth. This construction prevents the hand from being driven beyond its ordinary limit of movement over the dial, so that in the event of the mainspring being broken and of the arbor being turned beyond its proper position there is no danger of the indicator hand being forced against the side of the case and being broken thereby.

I am aware that various attemptshave been made to combine an automatic winding indicator with a tinie-1no\-*e1nent through the intervention of gearing. It is to be noted as a peculiarity of my system that the greater portion of the supplemental gearing which is called into action during the winding opera tion to move theindicator backward is thrown out of action and permitted to remain at rest during the ordinary action of the time-move ment. It is also to be noted that the arrangement is such that the gear for transmitting motion from the time-movement to the indicator are not subjected when running to any retardation other than the usual friction on their teeth and pivots, and in this respect the device differs materially from those in which the indicator-driving devices are compelled to overcome the resistance of a friction plate or coupling. It is to be further noted that in my system the winding-indicator is moved both forward and backward by means of gears applied one directly to thebarrel and the other directly to the winding-arbor, and that there is no connection with the time train or movement beyond the barrel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a watch, the combination, with an ordinary time-movement, of an indicator to show the condition of the mainspring, intermediate gearing connecting theindicator with the winding-arbor independently of the time train, and gearing connecting the indicator with the barrel independently of the timetrain, substantially as described, whereby the rotation of the arbor is caused to move the indicator in one direction and the rotation of the barrel caused to move the same in the oppo site direction.

2. In a watch having an ordinary time train or movement, an indicator to show the winding and unwinding of the mainspring, combined with a supplemental gearing having a yielding connection with the barrel to move the indicator in a forward direction, and a secondary supplemental gearing, substantially as described, acting automatically to connect the winding-arbor with the first-named gear, to move the indicator in the opposite direction, as described and shown.

3. In a watch, the combination, with the mainspring-barrel and the winding-arbor, of an indicator to show the winding and unwind ing of the mainspring, and automatic gearing, substantially as described, whereby the indicator is first moved in one direction by the ro tation of the arbor, and then moved in the opposite direction by the rotation of the barrel.

4. In a time-movement having agoing-barrel, a winding-indicator and a driving-gear therefor secured concentrically upon the barrel by a friction device, substantially as shown.

5. In a watch, the barrel and the windingarbor, combined with the gear secured firmly to the arbor, the gear frictionally secured to the barrel, disconnecting pinions uniting said gears, an indicator, and gearing uniting said indicator with the gearing on the barrel,whereby the rotation of the arbor in winding the spring is caused to move the indicator backward, and the rotation of the barrel in the same diregtion is caused to move the indicator forwarc 6. In combination with a time train or move-' ment, an indicator and a reversible gearing, substantially as described, independent of the time-train, whereby the indicator is driven alternately from the arbor and the barrel.

7 In a watch, the mainspring, barrel, and arbor, and the yielding pawl topermit a retrograde motion of the barrel, combined with the frictionally-held gear on the barrel, an indicator connected therewith, the gear scoured to the arbor, and the intermediate pinions connecting said gears and arranged to be thrown into and out of action by the retrograde motion of the arbor, as described and shown.

8. In combination with an ordinary time train or movement, a winding-indicator and a reversible gearing, substantially as described, independent of the ti1ne-train, to unite the indicator alternately with the going-barrel and the arbor, and a winding-arbor adapted to have a limited retrograde motion, substantially as described, for the purpose of connecting the reversible gearing alternately with the going-barrel and the arbor.

9. In combination with the indicator driving-gear, the gear Q, having a frictional connection with the drum, the gear S, having a permanent connection with the arbor, the pinions T and U, the gear V, and the swinging arm XV, combined substantially as described.

10. In combination with the gear S, having a retrograde motion, a gear, Q, the swinging arm XV, having the pinions and gear thereon, and the friction device applied to retain said arm in position,whereby the arm is caused to automatically connect and disconnect the gear according to the direction in which the gear S is turned.

11. I11 combination with the indieator-hand and its wheel K, the sh aft M and its two pinions, the pinion O and gear P, connected thereto, the pawl and its frictional drivi ng-gear Q, the win ding-arbor and its gear L, the pinionsT and U, and the gear V, adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the gear Q, as de scribed and shown.

12. In combination with a winding-arbor and a ratchet-wheel secured rigidly thereon, a yielding pawl or click, substantially as described, to permit a backward rotation olthe arbor.

13. In combination with the indieator-haml and the driving-pinion L, the gear-wheel K, having teeth upon a portion onl y 01' its eriph cry, and having the rcinainin portion cut away in such manner as to :l'reely pass the pinion.

1 1-. In combination with the winding-arbor and the ratchet-wheel fixed thereon, the slid ing pawl or click arranged to yield endwise upon its pivot, and the spring acting, as described, to urge the pawl against the wheel and also to urge it forward.

lll DOLPII l [El/X8011. \Vitnesses:

L. C. Youxo, I. T. Donor). 

